Constitutional Rights Violated as CITAD Condemns Arrest of IBBUL Student for Criticising Niger Governor Bago

The detention of Abubakar Isah Mokwa, a postgraduate student from Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), has drawn sharp condemnation from the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD). Mokwa was allegedly arrested by the police for sharing critical views about the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, on the social media platform, Facebook.

Dependable NG reports that the Center’s Executive Director, Y.Z. Ya’u, issued a statement on Friday, denouncing the arrest as an unlawful attempt to silence dissent and criminalise the fundamental right to free expression. CITAD firmly asserts that the arrest is a breach of the nation’s supreme law, directly violating Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the freedom to hold and express opinions without interference.

According to reports, Abubakar was taken from his off-campus residence in Lapai and subsequently moved to the State Police Command Headquarters in Minna. The police justified their action with allegations of cyber bullying and cyberstalking against the student. However, the rights group dismissed these claims, labelling them as baseless attempts to suppress critical voices.

CITAD highlighted that this unfortunate incident is not isolated, pointing to a worrying and increasing trend of media repression and intolerance towards criticism within Niger State under the current administration. The statement recalled the suspension of Badegi 90.1 FM in August 2025 for its alleged criticism of the governor, alongside documented cases of harassment against journalists, including Yakubu Mustapha of Peoples Daily and Mustapha Nasiru Batsari of Voice of America, while they were executing their professional duties.

In response to the action, CITAD called for the immediate and unconditional release of Abubakar Isah Mokwa, urging the federal government to intervene and prevent security agencies from being exploited for political purposes. Ya’u appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the Nigeria Police Force to uphold citizens’ rights and requested the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the matter and ensure officers are warned against making arbitrary arrests of citizens for expressing their opinions in a democratic setting.

Furthermore, the rights organisation called upon Governor Bago to honour the principles of freedom of expression and refrain from targeting activists, media houses, and journalists. Ya’u stressed that the governor’s focus should be on addressing developmental challenges and improving governance in Niger State, rather than intimidating the populace. CITAD concluded by emphasising that freedom of expression is an essential pillar of democracy, warning that the continued misuse of state power to silence critics diminishes civic trust and undermines democratic governance. The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to promoting digital rights and ensuring citizens can voice their opinions without fear of persecution.